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31 votes
4 answers
2k views

A Collatz-like function that bifurcates on primes

This is likely piling one mystery on another, but ... I was exploring a function $f(n): \mathbb{N} \mapsto \mathbb{N}$ defined as follows: $$ f(n) = \begin{cases} n^2 & \text{if} \;n \;\text{is ...
10 votes
1 answer
315 views

Fixpoints of $m\longmapsto \mathrm{rad}(\phi(m^2))$ under iteration

Given a strictly positive integer $m$ let $\alpha(m)=\mathrm{rad}(m\phi(m))$ be the radical (product of all distinct prime divisors) of the product of $m$ and of Euler's totient function $\phi(m)=m\...
9 votes
3 answers
591 views

subtracting greatest possible prime

Let $A$ be a set of positive integers, $\min A:=a_0$. For $x\geq a_0$ define $f(x)=x-a$, where $a\leq x$, $a\in A$ is the maximal possible. Then for a positive integer $x$ the iterations $x$, $f(x)$, $...
21 votes
4 answers
2k views

Prime factorization "demoted" leads to function whose fixed points are primes

Let $n$ be a natural number whose prime factorization is $$n=\prod_{i=1}^{k}p_i^{\alpha_i} \; .$$ Define a function $g(n)$ as follows $$g(n)=\sum_{i=1}^{k}p_i {\alpha_i} \;,$$ i.e., exponentiation is "...
2 votes
1 answer
515 views

On comparing two almost injective divisor maps

Edit 2018.08.08 This answer https://mathoverflow.net/a/307881 will be updated to give recent information about S, especially a forthcoming preprint. End Edit 2018.08.08 In an introductory post on ...
5 votes
4 answers
2k views

How do these primes jump?

Update 2017.08.28: I am still looking for references. I have posted a request to https://cs.stackexchange.com/q/79971 which includes some literature references I found which are of interest but still ...
7 votes
1 answer
424 views

Naturally occuring counting process with a 1/log asymptotics?

Besides prime numbers, is there another physically realizable counting process that exhibits a 1/log density ? The reason I am posting this question is that we are measuring the response of a quantum ...
0 votes
1 answer
1k views

Implication for cycles (of some length $m$) in Collatz-type problems: typical ratio between largest and smallest element?

Background Consider Collatz-type problems of the form $an + 1$, where $a > 2$ is a positive, odd integer (e.g., $3n + 1$, $5n +1 $, $7n + 1$, etc.). For convenience, automatically divide by two. ...
32 votes
2 answers
2k views

A Collatz-like problem on prime numbers

Consider the function $f$ on the prime numbers defined by $$ f(p):= \text{ the greatest prime factor of } 2p+1.$$ The iteration of $f$ from any prime $p<10^8$ converges to the cycle $$(3,7,5,11,23,...
2 votes
2 answers
395 views

About consecutive integers covered by arithmetic progressions

Help me please to solve the following problem. There are $n$ arithmetic progressions of the form: $$(2i+1)k + x_i,~~~~ i = 1,\ldots,n, k \geq 0$$ Initial integer terms $x_i \geq 0$ are varying. ...
6 votes
0 answers
448 views

Are there always at least *five* divisions?

@JosephO'Rourke asked a question about a Collatz like function related to primes: $f(n) = \begin{cases} n^2 & \text{if} \;n \;\text{is prime} \\ \lfloor n/2 \rfloor & \text{if} \;n \;\text{...
34 votes
2 answers
2k views

Does iterating a certain function related to the sums of divisors eventually always result in a prime value?

Let define the following function for integers (from 2): $f(x)=\sigma(x)-1$, where $\sigma$ is the sum of the divisors of $x$. For example $f(6)=6+3+2=11$, $f(5)=5$. Note that $x$ is a fixed point for ...